"Ruth," she said, "go and talk to Susy Hopkins during recess. She will have something to say, and I want you so badly. You won't refuse me, will you, Ruth?" "But I don't know what you want," said Ruth. "Go and talk to Susy Hopkins; she will know. Oh, there she is!" "Kathleen, Kathleen!" called out Alice. "The school-bell has just rung, and they are opening the doors. Come do come." "In a jiff," replied Kathleen. She ran up to Susy. "This is what I promised," she said; "and there is a note inside. Read it, and give me the answer where I have asked you." Susy Hopkins, a most ordinary little girl, who had no position of any sort in the school, colored high with delight. Some of the paying girls looked at her in astonishment. Susy walked into the school with her head high in the air; she quite adored Kathleen, for she was making her a person of great distinction. "We are going to have a glorious time," whispered Susy to Kate Rourke as they made their way to their respective classes. Susy was small, rather stupid, and absolutely unimportant. Kate was big, black-eyed, impudent. She was jealous of the paying girls of the school; but she treated Susy as some one beneath contempt. "Don't drag my sleeve," she replied crossly. "And what you do mean by a glorious time? I don't understand you." "You will presently," said Susy. "And when all is said and done, you will have to remember that you owe it to me. But I have no time to talk now; only meet me, and bring as many of the foundationers as you can collect into the left-hand corner of the playground, just behind the Botanical Laboratory, at recess." Kate made no answer, unless a toss of her head could have been taken as a reply. Her first impulse was to take no notice of Susy's remarks--little Susy Hopkins, the daughter of a small stationer in the town, a girl who had scarcely scraped through in her examination. It was intolerable that she should put on such airs.